110 days — Dating back to the early 1900s, Isaac Hershey, and later Isaac's son Noah, developed this historic dent variety over a period of years in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They crossed many varieties selecting for early maturity, disease resistance, ease of harvest and uniformity. Over 10% of all U.S. bred modern hybrid corn varieties can trace their heritage back to this variety.[1]

The ears are nine to eleven inches long with sixteen to eighteen rows of large, yellow, dent kernels. The stalks grow tall and leafy with sturdy root systems. Strong root system for better resistance to wind or drought. Good as a silage variety. Each ounce is approximately 120 seeds.

I planted about thirty seeds. My other varieties came up fine, but I had to replant 25%. Will wait and see how the yield is.

VSC Notes: Although 75% meets the minimum seed standard for corn, we work hard to exceed these standards by as much as biologically possible. I would have expected a much higher initial germination rate. There are a lot of factors that can affect establishing a stand of corn - everything from soil and climate conditions to birds, insects and rodents. I hope that your resowing was a success and that you have a great gardening season. ~Mike

Reviewed by: Will Schmit from Albuquerque.
on 5/29/2017

Why plant anything else?

Perfect germ, no pest or disease problems, almost. One ear did develop smut, unlike the flint corn, and was removed from the lineup promptly. 10-12' stalks, thick, 2-3 immense ears per. The stalk on the wet end of the row was pitiful, though. Pollination was certainly adequate, but not quite complete; probably due to the rainy, fairly still summer we had. My neighbors are claiming severe corn envy.

Reviewed by: David Emigh from NW PA.
on 12/1/2013

Ears were about nine inches and uniform kernels.

I ordered this variety because I am a beginner grower. I grew the corn in five rows of seven knowing it needs to be grouped for wind pollination. They were blown over by the wind very easily and when ears started to form they started bending a quarter of the way up the stalk and in some cases snapped. The stalks ended up being about 7 to 8 feet tall. The ears that I harvested were about nine inches and uniform kernels. I will be trying a different variety next season.

[Note from Mike: As a beginner to corn, you probably don't know that unlike other plants, corn stalks benefit from hilling. That is, mounding soil up around their bases as the season progresses. If you live in an area that receives moderate to high winds, choosing shorter varieties is also recommended. Additionally, the adage of "too much of a good thing" holds true with corn. If they are in an extremely fertile location, receive lots of water, or are fertilized too much, they can tend to grow tall and spindly with inadequate root systems. I hope that you have a better experience next season. ~Mike]